electrical visual indicator



3 Sheets-Sheet 1:.

(No Model.)

C.-H.POND.

ELECTRICAL VISUAL INDICATOR.

nted Jan.1882,.

INVENT R ATFTEST1{ x oiwiim N, PEYEHS. Phumumn n hu. Wasluinglun. D. c.

3'Sheets-Shet 2 G. H. POND.

, ELECTRICAL VISUAL INDICATOR.

(No Model.)

Patents ad Jan. 31,1882.

w No. 252,897.

INVENTDRI ATT EST TI. u

u PETERS. mwuma m Washn om o c (N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. H. POND. ELECTRICAL VISUAL INDI'GATOR. NO. 252,897. Patented Jam. 31,1882.

I INVENTORI- v 045 6/ ATTEST'. mm Mid-5&4 5 MQW Q @Wufiw ETERS. PhnkLLkhognpher, Washinghm, n. c.

Nrrn STATES ATENT rates.

CHESTER H. POND, OF NE\V YCRK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE POND ELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SAME FLACE.

ELECTRICAL VISUAL INDICATOR.

$7 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,897, dated January 31, 1812.

Application filed NOYBIHDCT'IQ, 1580. Renewed December 16, 1881. (No model.)

10 all whom it may concern: 'two views,the right-hand one being a detached Be it known'that I, CHESTER H. POND, aview, looking in the opposite direction from citizen of the United States, residing in the Figs. 2 and S, and the left-hand one being a city, county, and State of New York, have infront view of the same parts. 5 vented certain Improvements in Visual lndi- 1 will first name the. parts shown in my becators, of which thei'ollowing isa specification. t'ore mentioned patent which I have retained This application was originallyfiled 'Novemin my present construction.- ber 19, 1880, and allowed March 23, 1881, it A is the intermittently-tnoving fall, which I. having since been renewed. now call the escapementrack. a a are the 60 This invention is an improvement upon the -escapemeut-teeth thereof. b is the intermitindicator claimed in my Patent No. 232,415, of tent stop. September 21, 1880, its main object being to B is the actuating electro'magnet. C is the simplify that apparatus and improve its operarmature thereof. 0 is the pallet, receiving ation. motion from said armature. 65 By my present improvementsl am enabled to D is the moving part or wheel, theextent'of dispense with all butone of the actuatingunagwhose movement determines which character nets, with all the system-switches, with all the of a series is to be displayed, and which byv correcting-switches, with all the locking-pins preferencebearsthecharactersuponitssurface. on the character-beering wheels, and with a This I shall hereinafter refer to as the non- 7o portion of the restoring mechanism, besides intermittently-movingpart or wheel,to distinhaving somewhat simplilied the remaining guishitt'rom those heretotbre used whose moveparts and rendered an indicator of two or more ment is intermittent. (l d are the pins or stops indicating systems capable of working in the on the part D. E is the escapementas a whole, line-circuit, as desired, thus dispensing with including the parts A, a a and c. 2 the local battery and relay. fis thcapertureiu theinclosing-case,through In the accompanying drawings I have shown which the characters on the wheel D may be an indicator of three indicating systems, or seen. one capable of displaying to view three char- F is the locking-lever for the wheel D. acters (as anumber of three figures) at the g is the rod which moves said lever back, 80 same time. andG is the drop whichholds said lever back. Figure 1 is a front elevation, the inelosing- I Of the resetting or restoring mechanism, K case and the left-hand portion of the mechair is the vertically-sliding rod. his the depressor ism beingsin vertical section,taken in the plane borne thereby, which engages the toe or wipe 0f the lines o v in Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 2 is a k on the spring-tail of the lever F. ,85 5 side elevation, partly in vertical section,tal;en l is the shoulder for lifting the drop G, and

in the plane of the linew w in Figs. 1 and 4. m'is the spring-arm for lilting the rack A. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken The parts thusfar referred to are designated in a plane fart-her to the right than Fig. 2, in my former patent by the same reference-let- I as substantially indicated by the line 00 :r in ters that I have here applied to them, and forgo Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 4 is a plan, the inclosinga full description of their construction, opercase being in horizontal section, taken in the ation, essential and non-essential features, and plane of the line g y in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. modifications, I hereby refer the public to my 5answcrs to Fig. 2, and shows the position of said patent. the parts after the operation of the apparatus, I will now describe my present improve- 5 5 the case and restoring device being omitted. ments.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section The wheel D is rotated by meansot' a vertitaken in the planeot' theline zzin Figs. land cally-sliding rack, I], engaging a pinion, h, 2, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken in the fixed to the wheel. The weight of the rack same plane as Fig. 2, and illustrating a modigives to the wheel a continual tendency to re- I00 fication. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken in volve in the direction of the arrow. The use the same plane as Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 includes of the rack obviates the difficulties incidentto the stretching and breakage of the cord before used, and also enables me to dispense with the second cord, (lettered r in my previous patent,) employed to rotate the wheel backward in restoring the apparatus. This simplifies the restoring device, a mere projecting arm, 0, moving with the rod K, and arranged to take under and lift the rack 11 when the rod K is moved upward, being all that is required to rotate the wheel I) back to its starting-point.

The part H may be a pivoted segment instead of a sliding rack, the essentials being that it shall have cog-teeth to engage the pinion h, and shall have suflicfent weight to ro tate the wheel D.

I am aware that the indicating-wheel of the well-known step-by-step indicator has been given arotativc tendency by means of a toothed segment pressed upon by a spring and meshing with a pinion on the spindle of the wheel; but in such indicators thewheel is operated by diil'erent means from mine, and is capable of advancing only from one character to the next at each movement, while my indicating-wheel may advance at one movement to any of the characters.

The several rods K are fixed at their bottom ends toacross-bar, 0, so that all move simultaneously, and they are lifted to restore the apparatus by a lever, I, which takes under said bar, and is operated by arod, i, terminating in a knob, J. '15 pulling down the knob the lever is tilted into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '1, and the cross-bar 0 and rods K K thereby lifted to the requisiteheight. \Vhen the operator releases the knob J it is lifted and the lever I drawn back by a spring, j, whereupon the rods K K descend by theirown weight, or by the force of a spring, if found necessary. Instead of employing the knob J and rod '1 the end of the lever I may extend through a slot in the side of the case, so as to be grasped by the hand.

For locking the wheel I) when it is stopped,

I no longer employ pins on its periphery to be engaged by a socket in the lower arm of the lever F. Instead of this I adapt the springtail to press directly upon the periphery of the wheel, so as to act as afriction-brake, and I provide for forcibly pressing this brake (lettered F)againstthe wheel when thelatteris stopped.

The drop G is provided with a narrow toe, p, which normally rests upon the front edge of the upper end of the lever F, and with an inclined wedging or cam surface, q, which norin ally is outpf forcible contact with thelever F, though it may touch it lightly. The drop is pressed downward by a spring, 1', or by itsown weight. When the backward movement of the rod 1 has pressed back the upper arm of the lever F but slightly the lever passes from under the toe 1) and the drop Gr falls, whereupon its inclined surface q engages the upper end of the lever F and forcibly presses it still farther back, forcing the brake F into close contact with the wheel D. I thus employ the power of the spring 1' to operate the brake F, instead of relying upon the momentum ofthe wheel I) for this purpose, the latter being used merely to release the drop.

I have shown two forms of the drop G, the preferable one (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5) consisting of a vertically-sliding bolt, with a helical spring, 1', surrounding it. The other form is shown in Fig. 7, the drop being there a lever or pivoted dog with a leaf-spring,r. The drop is susceptible of considerable modification without impairing its essential character. It is provided with a pin or projecting shoulder, l, for engagement with the shoulder l of the restoring mechanism.

Instead of employing a separate magnet, B, for each indicating system and switching the circuit from each magnetto the succeeding one, as in my former patent, I now employ but one magnet for all the indicating systems, and dispensc entirely with the switches, substituting therefor means for shifting the action of the magnet from one system to the next.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, each pallet c is borne on a radial arm, which is fixed to and vibrated by a rock-shaft, L, to which shalt is also fixed another arm, which bears the armature O. A retracting spring or weight will be used to normally draw the armature away from the magnet B, and suitable stops will be provided for limiting the play of the armature and shaft. This shaft should be verylightand stiff, being preferably made of steel rod. Each movement of the armature is communicated through the shaft to all the pallets.

The rack A of the first indicating system is or may be constructed precisely as shown in Fig. 1 of my Patent No. 232,415, before referred to, its lowest tooth a resting normally on its pallet c. In my present construction I have reversed the arrangement of the indicating systems, the first to operate beingnow at the right and the last being at the left. For convenience [will refer to the first, second, and third systems by the letters S, S and S, respectively, the system S being at the right and S at the left. Thedeviccs shown in Figs. 2, 5, 8, and 9 belong only to the system S Fig. 6 shows devices belonging only to the systems S and S and Figs. 1 and 4 show all three systems. The systems S and S are in every respect counterparts of each other.

To prevent the systems S and S from operating while the system S is being operated, they are thrown out of gear with their pallets XOC by the rackA of each being lifted slightlyand subsequent vibrations of the armature and pallets effect the operation of the second system. WVhen the operation of that is completed the rack A of the system S is also automatically dropped, thus bringing that system into connection with its pallet.

The automatic dropping of the rack of one system, when the operation of the preceding system is completed, may be accomplished in several ways, the preferable one being shown in the drawings. The rack A of each of the systems S and S is provided with a downwardly-bearing shoulder, s, which rests upon a detent, t. This detent, which I have shown in the form of a sliding rod, is moved out from under the shoulder s by the movement of the lever F of the preceding system. The said lever bears an arm,u, preferablya spring-arm, which, as the lever moves back, strikes a projecting pin or shoulder, t, on the detent it, thus pressing back the latter. The detent is normally pressed forward by a very light spring, 8, which I have shown as taking against the back of the pint, and as fixed to the lever F, which supports the rear end of the detent-rod. I prefer that the rod 9 and the detent t shall be identical, as shown, in which case I form a shoulder, 9, near the rear end of the rod, for engaging the lever F, this shoulder being normally pressed out of contactwith the lever by the spring 8. The arm a presses back thcrol t g only far enough to clear the shoulders, and not far enough to force the shoulderg against the lever F, so as to press the latter back, andthe spring 8, which is compressed by this movement, is too weak to press the lever back. During this first movement the rod tgacts only as the detent t, it being then in position to act as the rod 9 upon the stoppage of\the wheel D. In restoring the apparatus after use the forward movement of the lever F, when released, forces the rod lg and rack A forward, and when the rack reaches its uppermost position the spring 8 presses the rod 13 g'still farther forward under the shoulder s.

In order that the backward movemeutof the arm u may not press back the rod tg so far that its shoulder g forces back the lever F and releases the drop G, I provide a guard or fixed stop, a, (shown in Figs. 1 and 6,) against which the arm a will strike when it has moved back far enough. n

I am aware thatstep-by-step indicators having t'wo indicating systems have had both systems operated by one electro-magnet, they being brought successively into operative connection therewith; out in indicators of that character the means for shifting the connection from one system to the next is necessarily 0perated by clock-work or some similar device, and cannot be operated by the stoppage of the indicating part, since that part may stop several times before it reaches the character to be displayed, and consequently before it is desired to transfer the connection with the magnet to the succeeding system. In my indicator the indicating part is not stopped until it displays the figure desired, and the bringing of the succeeding system into connection with the n'iagnet is effected by its stoppage.

It is evident that if all the racks A were like that of the system S, as shown in Fig. t of my previous patent, then at the completion ofthe operation of that system, in case the actuating-circuit were in the opposite of its normal condition, orin the. condition prearranged to etfect the starting of the systems, the system S would be at once started, without waiting for themanipnlaiion of the circuit to be resumed,ils rack A would fall one tooth' and the wheel I) would be relea ed and would display its first character and stop, thus 0.111sing an' erroneous indication.

In my previous patent Iemployed a correcting-switch to obviate this difficulty; but in my present construction I employ instead a novel form of the-rack A.

Referring to Figs. 2, 5, 8, and '9', a is an additional tooth formed on the rack beneath the lowest tooth a,and corresponding to the teeth an. in form and arrangement. The rack is normally held up so high by the detent t, or by other means, that this tooth a is slighllfabm e the pallet c, as shown in Fig. 2, and the stop I) is prolonged downward sufficiently to restrain the first pin (1 when it is thus lifted. I will here assume that the actuatingcircuit, which includes the magnet B, is normally open, its first closure effecting the starting of the apparatus, this being the method provided for by the arrangement of parts shown in the drawings. If the operarion'of the. system S ceases with the circuitopen or in its normal condition, the rack A of thesystein S will drop until its lowest tooth (t rests upon the pallet. When it is in the position normally occupied by the rack Aofthe system S,an l whentile circuit isagain closed, the operation of the system S will comm ence. In this case the tooth a does not come into use; but if, on the contrary, the operation of the system S ceases when the cireuitis closed, or in the condition prearranged to effect the starting of the systems, the rack A will drop only until its tooth a rests upon the pallet, as shown in Fig.- 8. Then when the circuit is broken or brought back to its normal condition the pallet moves from under said tooth and the rack drops until its lowest tolth a rests upon the pallet,it being then in itsstarting position,

so that the next closure of the circuit will commencetheoperationofthesystem. Thismeans for insuring the correct. operation of the indicator is much simpler and cheaper than the correcting switch em ployed in my previous patent, and is equally reliable in its operation. It is as applicable to the constructionshown in my previous patent, where each pallet is operated by a separate magnetand the circuit is shunted from one magnet to another, as to my present construction. In that patent the magnet of the succeeding system was kept out of circuit after the operation of the preceding system until the circuit assumed its normal condition. By my improved method the magnet is kept in the circuit and permitted to operate; but be h the act of shifting the operative connection from the preceding to the succeeding system and the movement of the pallet as the circuit resumes its normal condition are rendered impotent to commence the operation of the succt eding system. Other means than that shown may be. readily devised to accomplish this result, and my present means may he ap plied to insuring the corn or operation of stepby-step or intermittently-moving indica'ors.

In order to prevent any accidental backward movement of the rack A while it is inits normal position, and until it descends to such a point as to release the wheel D, I provide it with a prtjectiouw, which abuts against a fixed surface or shoulder back of it when the rack is raised orin its normal position, and passes below said shoulderwheu the rack falls t'arenough to release the wheel 1). While the projection '12 is in abutment with the shoulder the rack A has no backward play; but when it passes below the shoulder the rack may be driven backward by the impact of the wheel D in stopping.

Instead of making the rack Ain two pieces jointed together, I now make it in one piece and provide its upper portion with two opposite laterally-projecting ears, to 10, which slide in the vertical guides. When the lower portion of the rack is driven backward by the impact; of the wheel D the rack tilts on these cars as a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 5.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a visual indicator, the combination of intermit tently-moviug stop b, electromagnetic mechanism for controlling its intermittent movements, wheel D, pins (1 d thereon, pinion h, connected therewith, and toothed weight H, meshing with said pinion, and thereby imparting to the wheel I) a normal tendency to rotate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a visual indicator, the combination of stop I), an electromagnetic escapement for controlling its movement, wheel D, pins (1 01, pinion h, and toothed weight H, meshing therewith, with a restoring device consisting of an upwardlymoving part, K, provided with ashoulder or arm, 0, adapted to engage said weight and lift it to its normal position, substantially as set; forth.

3. In a visual indicator comprising a rack, A, wheel D, weight H, and connection between said wheel and weight, whereby the dropping of the latter causes the rotation of said wheel, the combinatiomwit b said parts, of a restoring mechanism consistingof ashding rod,K,bearing shoulder m, adapted to take under and lift rack A, le\er I, adapted when pulled to take under and lift said-rod, and means actuated by said movement of said lever for lifting said weight and efi'ccting thereby the return levolution ot the wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. In a visual indicator employing a nonintermittcntly-rotating wheel, D, and mechanism for releasing and stopping it, the combi nation of said wheel with a friction-brake, F, adapted to press against the surface thereof, of mechanism adapted,when released,to press said brake forcibly against said wheel, and of means for releasiugsaid mechanism by the stoppage of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a visual indicator, the combination of the wheel D, means for releasing it, means for rotatingit, aml means for stopping it, lever F, bearing the friction-brake F, drop G, inclined or wedging surface q, and means for releasing said drop by the stoppage of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

6. In a visual indicator, the combination of an intermittently-moving rack, A, the wheel D, the rod the lever 1*, hearing the frictionbrake F, and the drop G, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the wheel D, of the lever F, bearing the friction-brake F, the drop Gr, having cam-surface q and toe p, which normally rests on lever F, and thereby upholds the drop, and means for releasing said drop by pressing back the lever F until it no longer upholds said toe, substantially as set forth.

8. In a visual indicator, one indicating system consisting of a non-intermitteutly-moving part, so arranged relatively to a series of characters that the extent of its movement from its normal position determines which of said characters is displayed, an intermittentlymoving part the number of whose advances determines the extent of movement of the firstnamed part, and an "escapement whose operation controls the movement of said intermittently-moving part, in combination with a sec ond like indicating system, with one electromagnet adapted to operate the escapement of either system and normally in operative connection with that of the first system only, and with means, actuated automatically by the stoppage of the movement of the non-intermittently-moving part of the first system, for bringing said magnet into operative connection with the escapement of the second system, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a visual indicator, an indicating sys tem consisting of a non-intcrmittently-moving part, D, tending to move in one direction, but normally restrained from moving, mechanism for releasing it and for stopping it after it has traveled a greater or less distance, and an escapement, E, for controlling said stopping mechanism and determining the point in its travel at which the moving part is stopped, in

armature of said magnet and the escapement of the second system, that the subsequent vibrations of said armature shalleffect the operation of the second system, substantially as set forth.

10. In a visual indicator, an indicating system consisting of an escapement, E, an intermittent stop, I), and a non-intermittently-moving part, D, bearing a .series of pins, (1 d, in combination with a second like system, with one electro-magnet for operating the escapementof either system, the same being normally in operative connection with the first system only, and with means for automatically bringing said magnet into operative connection with the second system upon the completion of the operation of the first, substantially as set forth.

11. In a visual indicator, an indicating system consisting of a pallet, c, rack A, having teeth a a, intermittent stop b, and non-intermittently-moving part D, having a series of pins, (1 d, in combination with a second like system, with means for vibrating the pallets of both systems simultaneously, with means for holding the rack of the second system up out of engagement with its pallet during the operation of the first system, and with meansfor automatically droppingitonto said pallet upon the completion of the operation of the first system, substantially as set forth.

12. In a visual indicator, an indicating system consisting of a pallet, c, rack A, having teeth a a, intermittent stop 0, and non-intermittently-moving part D, having a series of pins, (1 d, in combination with a second like system, with means for simultaneously vibrating the pallets of the two systems, with a detent, 2, arranged to normally uphold the rack of the second system out of connection with its pallet, and with means for withdrawing said detent and dropping the said rack onto its pal let upon the completion of the operation of the first system, substantially as set forth.

13. In a visual indicator, an indicating system consisting of a pallet, c, rack A, having teeth a a, intermittent stop I), and non-intermittently-moving part D, with a second like.

system whose rack A has a shoulder, s, with means for simultaneously vibrating the pallets of both systems, with a detent, t, for engaging said shoulder s, with an arm, a, for withdrawing said detent, and with means for moving said arm by the stoppage of the part D of the fi'rstsystem, substantially as set forth.

14. In a visual indicator, the combination of an indicating system consisting of a pallet, c, rack A, having teeth a a,stop b, and wheel D, bearing pins (Z d, with a second like system, with means for vibrating both pallets simultaneously, with a rod, g, in connection with the rack A of the first system, with an arm, it, moved bysaid rod, and with a detent, I, moved by said arm, and normally engaging a. shoulder, 8, on the rack A of the second system, substantially as set forth.

15. Thecombinationof twoelectrically-actuated indicator systems, ear-h adapted to advance one character for each break or closure of their actuating-circuit, the first system only being in operative connection with said circuit, with means for bringing the second system into connection therewith upon the completion of the operation of the first system, and with mechanical means for preventing the act of effectingthis connection from prematurely start ing the second system in case the circuit at the time said connection is made is in the condition-(either open or closed) prearranged to effect the starting thereof, without withholding the circuit from the magnet which actuates said second system, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of two indicator sys tems', both operated by the same electro-magnet, and each adapted to advance one character for each closure and break of the actuatingcircuit, and the first system only normally in operative connection with the magnet, with means for automatically establishing an operative connection between the second system and said magnet upon the completion of the operation of the firstsystem, and with mechanical means for preventing the act of est-ablish-.

ing such connection from prematurely starting the second system, substantially as set forth.

17. In a visualindicator,anindicatingsystem consisting of a character-displaying mechanism whose movement is controlled by a pallet,

c, and rack A, having teeth a a, in combination with a second like system whose rack A is formed with an additional tooth, a, and is normally sustained with said tooth above its pallet, with means for vibrating said pallets, and with means for dropping the said rack into connection with its pallet upon the completion of the operation of the first system, substantially as set forth.

18. In a visual indicator, a non-intermittently-moving part, D,having pinsd d,incon1- bination with an intermittently-moving part, A, bearing a stop, b, and having a projection, a, which normally bears against a fixed shoulder and con tines the part- A laterally, but which,

when said part has passed out of its normal position, passes beyond said shoulder and leaves the part A free to be moved laterally by the contact of either of the pins (1 with its stop I), substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- CHESTER H. POND. Wit nesses:

HENRY CONNEIT, E. B. BoL'roN. 

